WHOA That's Good Podcast - No Birth Certificate But God Knows My Name! | Sadie Rob Huff | Luis & Brittany Matos

Episode Date: May 20, 2024

Sadie has known Luis Matos for a long time, first meeting him in the Dominican Republic at an orphanage where he lived when he was 10 and she was 9. They really did “grow up like siblings” as Sadie and her family continued to visit the DR as much as they could and now many years later, Luis, his wife Brittany, and their son A.J. live in Louisiana right next to the Robertsons and Luis and Bella just graduated from Liberty University too! Luis shares how for most of his life, he didn’t have a birth certificate which prevented him from being able to travel — and get legally married — but he always knew his identity was in Christ. You’ll love this conversation and you’ll be amazed at the goodness of God as you hear Luis and Brittany’s story and always remember: God’s timing is perfect!  This Episode of WHOA That's Good is Sponsored by: https://www.hungryroot.com/whoa — Get 40% OFF your first delivery and FREE veggies for life! https://give.cru.org/good or text GOOD to 71326 — Get a free copy of Sadie and Christian's new book "How to Put Love First" with your monthly gift! https://liberty.edu/Sadie — Get your application fee WAIVED when you start your future with Liberty University today! - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alright, well that's good fam. I have some super exciting news. We are nominated for another K-Love Fan Award, which is just absolutely incredible. It is a huge honor to even be nominated amongst so many amazing podcasters. So guys, we need to see the support. You guys already support us in so many ways by listening to this podcast, sharing on social media, even just listening means the world. But if you would go to klovefanawards.com and vote for the Well That's Good Podcast to win this award, it would mean so much to me. I'm just so grateful for you as a listener. And also, huge news too, my family's movie, The Blind, is nominated for Movie of the Year.

So we are just celebrating this, that we get to even go to the Klove Awards together. I'm hosting this year, already just a huge honor. But if you would do that and vote for Boy Let's Go Podcast and also The Blind, it would mean so much to our family. Thank you guys so much. Y'all are the absolute best.

What's up everybody? Happy Monday. I hope that you're having a great start to your week. And y'all, I am truly so excited for the conversation I'm about to dive into. One of the things that we've been talking about just on the back end with our team is just the conversations we're having on this podcast.

They've been so powerful and so amazing. And one thing we've really tried to do on Mondays is just highlight amazing stories from people who are actually in our life that we learn from, that we love. And these two people are absolutely incredible. Their story is amazing. I can't wait for you guys to hear it.

And you've probably actually seen them on our Instagram. All of a sudden we had this new family member, Luis, show up and then his wife, Brittany and AJ. And it's like, AJ is just one of the cousins. I bet people are like, wait a second, what? So we're gonna formally introduce you to Luis and Brittany. Thanks for coming on the podcast.

Thank you for having us. Thank you so much for having us. It's such an honor to be here. Is this y'all's first podcast? It is. Okay, love that. This is the joy of Mondays is that most people, it is their first podcast.

And it's like, there's literally no pressure. That's what I said in the prayer. I was like, the amazing thing about your life is you do not have to strive for the words. You do not have to strive to like act like you're anything other than you are, who you all are and what your story is and what God has done in your life. If you even said it in a monotone way,

it would still be so empowering and powerful. So, which I know you're not because you are both so fun and expressive. Thank you. But let's like tell the people. So Luis, tell everybody how you and I met. Well, we met a long, long time ago. I remember we were like,

11? I was 10 or something like that. And you were 10 too or an I. Yeah. Yeah. And yeah, we met in the Dominican Republic and well I grew up in the North Finnish and your family has been part of that place for a long time you and your family have been the ones who treated us like family all along and been the ones who treated us like family all along. And yeah, and we just became family. And it's been like that for many years until now.

Yeah, it really is crazy. I guess like probably 15 years when we first went to Dominican. And I remember, so Luis is probably gonna make fun of me on this podcast because I still don't know Spanish, which I will admit is pretty ridiculous. But the one thing I do remember everyone saying in the orphanage is, Seri es loco. La loca. Seri la loca. Y'all always thought I was crazy. And we still say that. Because you just came into our house and you just acted like you just don't care. And we enjoyed seeing you every year. Because you would do these crazy things for us and we would laugh, we would play basketball

together. And it was fun growing up and seeing you every year in your family and like just growing up like siblings, you know? And until now we still have the same affection and love. Yeah. Well, I remember you see when you can't speak the language you have to overcommon state and other things.

So I think I was like extra crazy. I already am a little bit, you know, a little crazy in English and in my American life. But then in Dominican, it was like, I had this extra persona because I was like, I can't speak their language. So I have to be more expressive with my face and more expressive with my dance.

All the hands and basketball and this and that. We danced all the time. And I just think that that actually created a really special bond to everyone. And I remember even like at the end, before we were leaving, we'd always cry every time so much. Every year when we'd leave, we'd sing like love one another. And we would always like sing songs about love

and talk about how, you about how it really is so powerful and you know this and Brittany, we're about to get to your story in a minute, but just how love is such a universal language, like just showing up and being present, even if you can't speak the language and playing basketball or doing silly dances or not caring what you look like and just being yourself.

That's what created that sibling bond for all of us. And even, I don't know if you remember this, but like my parents, like we, I mean, I went with two mama just about every year. And then there was one year that I really wanted to be with you guys at Christmas. And so- Oh, I remember that.

Oh, yes. It was so fun. It was so fun. Yeah. Oh yeah. Oh, those Christmas gifts. Just like good memories. Really great memories. Oh yeah. Oh, those Christmas gifts. Just like good memories.

Yeah. Really great memories. And so yeah, you grew up in the children's home and I know like that we had two people here. Y'all are married and incredible. And we're gonna skip to, I'm just gonna skip to the end for a second and let y'all know these two people have the cutest kid.

But I wanna sit on this for a moment because the way you talk about the children's home is so interesting to me. Cause you just don't hear people like yourself talk about it in the way that you do So can you kind of speak to and just in all honesty like what it was like growing up in a children's home? For me it was a blessing growing up in this orphanage. It was It was something special and it's still that place still very special to me. Um, I still remember when my, my father brought me to this place, uh, me and my youngest brother and my youngest brother, he didn't take it that well, but I was

fine with it. I mean, I saw the reality of our situation back then. And growing up, I just realized that those people there were my family, you know? And I remember in high school, people would ask me, hey, how do you feel growing up in an orphanage and not having your parents with you? And I always said, it's the biggest blessing I've ever had. You know, because, yes, I didn't have my parents with me, but I had the opportunity to have

more than two parents, you know, people that took care of me. I grew up with 18 siblings. Like, that's, that's fun, you know? And I always saw the big picture of the situation. If I'm here, it's because it's for a reason, you know? And yeah, and I remember growing up in this place, we got to meet you and your family and you guys brought joy to our hearts, you know?

guys brought joy to our hearts. You know, you weren't the typical sponsors that say, all right, you were just kind of send money down there and take care of these kids. You showed up every year, you know, and for us that meant a lot because we got used to your presence every year and we were like, all right, let's get ready for the summer. The family's coming again and we need to get ready for all the energy they're bringing in, you know? But it was fun and that place is still, I call it my home, you know?

When I think about my parents, I think about those people that raised me. When I think about my parents, I think about those people that raised me. When I think about my siblings, I think about 18 kids that I grew up with. And now being here in America, I just feel that I wanna give that to AJ too. Give him the opportunity to grow up with his parents and have a family around.

A big family. Yeah, a big family. A big family. He's got a lot of cousins now. Oh yes, oh yes. He's getting used to the cousin life. And he's loving it. Yeah, him and Honey are so cute when they're together.

It's so funny seeing their little personalities and their little minds working fast with what they're gonna do and how they're gonna act together. It's just so cute. He's definitely jumped right in. I think the hardest transition was AJ becoming another grandkid because of the attention

that he was stealing from KK, my mom. All the other questions were like, wait a second? Because AJ definitely gets the attention. He is so cute and my mom adores him and he adores mom. It's so sweet to see how fast they connected though. Like we are family, we've grown up together. We met you and it was so natural. But then to see AJ and how natural he is with my parents

and with the cousins, like he just fit right in. It's like so beautiful. But I wanna touch on something you said because we were telling you this, and you were surprised by this when I was saying that, you know, we actually, online, we get like hate, you know, for going down to the DR and doing the mission trips that we would do.

And I say mission trips in quotes, because I don't really like to necessarily call them that, because that's not really what it is. Like we're going to visit people who we have a real relationship with. And while we're there, do we fix things? Yes. Do we help in whatever way? Yes. But like, it was a relationship trip.

Like more so, like going to see y'all. Yeah. Like to hang out and to be with y'all. And yes, we did Bible studies and like, EBS, the camps and all the things was so fun. But it was interesting for you to hear. I was like, we would get hate because people studies and like, we used the camps and all the things was so fun. But it was interesting for you to hear, I was like, we would get hate because people would say like, you know, you should just send money. Like it's hurtful to go and to form relationships

that then you leave and all of that. But it was really cool to hear you say like, no, that was not hurtful. That was so helpful to see y'all continue to grow up, like to see us continue to show up and our relationship continue to grow. And you're the only one here now, but you're not the only one

that we still have relationship with in the DR, which is really special. And now with social media, we get to keep up with everyone. And so I wanna ask you, because before, when we were coming, when we were young, like we weren't, I don't want to say like famous because it feels weird to say that we're famous now, but we didn't have like Duck Dynasty, we didn't have a following. Did y'all know like what was going on in our life?

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and get your free veggies. That's hungryroot.com slash woe. And don't forget to use our links so that they know we sent you there. We didn't have an idea who you were. We were like, okay, these are the people that always show up and they always come and play with us, bring us to the ice cream store,

but we didn't have an idea who you were. I think it was like, I mean, I was starting to get it. I mean, I was like, hmm, there's something I just don't, it doesn't feel right with me. So I remember once I went to the grocery store with Corey, with your mom, and I saw someone wearing a dog dynasty shirt. No way. I've literally never asked you this.

So I've never heard this story. When I saw the shirt, I was like, that face is so familiar. And I remember seeing a picture of Willie in your mom's phone and all that, and like your mom showing us the family. And I was like, hold on, who is that? And your mom tried to like,

oh yeah, we got famous in America, you know? And we were like, okay, that doesn't mean we're gonna treat you different, so okay, let's go again. And it was fun, you know? I mean, we didn't care at all. We were like, all right, this is our family and we just were fine with it.

But then I remember the first time y'all show us a clip of the whole dog dance. I remember that. You remember that? I remember that, yes. And it was in Spanish. It was in Spanish. Yeah, so funny.

Yes. Yeah, and I mean, we were laughing so hard. We were like, no way that you are on TV. I remember one of the kids was wondering like, well, wait, if you speak Spanish here in this video. Oh yeah, they were like, you speak Spanish? Like, you hiding out on us? Yeah, like why you haven't spoke Spanish all this time?

That's so funny. We had to explain the whole situation about translation and all that. Yeah, like why you haven't spoke Spanish all this time? That's so funny. We have to explain the whole situation about translation and all that. But yeah, we were, after that, the relationship kept going and you all didn't. Yeah. I mean like that stage of famous and so much attention

didn't throw you away from coming to the Dominican Republic and seeing us every year. You know, and- And I didn't even, what's cool for me is, this is the first time I've ever been asked you that, which is funny because I really didn't know where that was gonna go, but I never felt it shift. And that's why I was like, when did you find out?

How did you find out? Because of all the years we went and our life was changing, I remember I came right after Dance With The Stars and I never said that to any of y'all. Y'all didn't know, maybe you did. We never talked about it. No one was like, you were on Dancing With The Stars. We just didn't talk about that.

And I just remember thinking like, they don't know. Cool. But then I was like, some of y'all started getting social media. So I knew y'all had to know, but what was amazing to me is y'all started getting social media. So I knew y'all had to know. But what was amazing to me is y'all didn't treat me any differently. And I found after it is with the stars, I wanted to go even more, which is why one of the reasons I went for Christmas, because I felt so, I felt so myself there.

I felt so at home and with family and with siblings, like people who didn't, it really actually could, it makes me teary because I've never even really expressed this. It was a safe place for me, you know? And I just remember, I think I desired to be there even more after I felt like more people knew me here. I just wanted to be there, you know? But you know what's really cool, actually just like full circle moment.

When I was leaving the DR from the Christmas visit, me and my friend, do you remember Sterling? I do, yes. Okay, so me and Sterling were flying back and Sterling's parents just moved to Destin, Florida. And so she went to the Destin terminal for the first time. And she was like, we can't believe my parents moved from where she lived in high school.

And I went to the Monroe terminal and the airport. So we both split up coming back from Dominican. And it was in the airport that day that two cute boys from Desmond, Florida went up to her and were like, are you Sterling from Sadie Robb's Instagram? And that boy was Christian Huff. And that is where Sterling met Christian. And then I didn't meet him that day in the airport.

I didn't know anything about Christian, but that's who Sterling connected with. And so that's how I got to know Christian was through Sterling meeting her in the airport, coming back from the DR. And I didn't meet him until three years later. Isn't that cool? That's crazy.

I know, but that's, I actually, yeah, I never heard of that, but it was just like, kind of just a cool coincidence. But anyway, so we have so much to unpack with this story, but let's get to Brittany. So how did you find yourself to the DR? Because you are not from the DR. I am not from the DR.

So I'm actually originally from Maine, and I grew up just like going to church sometimes with my grandma, and as my life progressed, I really was not for church, not for God. I was very science-based and didn't want any part of it. But as I got older, I found myself more and more visiting a church and I got involved. What stirred your heart more towards church?

Just some of the people that were in my life at the time had invited me. I really wasn't looking for anything. I wasn't in the market to make any changes in my life. I love that, I was not in the market. I was not in the market, no. So I ended up just like attending this church, which was like, all right, I'll do it to see

some of the people that I'm friends with outside of church a little bit more. And I was taking classes online and working full time. And some of the classes that I was taking were with the youth pastor of the church that I was taking classes online and working full time. And some of the classes that I was taking were with the youth pastor of the church that I was attending. So we knew each other from class and from around. And he had approached me one day and just said,

Hey, I had this woman back out. She was supposed to chaperone this mission trip to the DR. Is there any chance you'd be interested in that?" And I said, well, how much does it cost? And he told me, and I said, this is the cheapest Caribbean vacation I will ever take. And I don't mind teenagers, so I was like, let's do it. So I signed up to go on this mission trip. I'm not a believer. I'm not any part of the church. I just go there sometimes on Sunday. So they invited me along and I went on my first mission trip in 2011 and I actually had an encounter with God

on that trip. Wow. That was July of 2011 and I got baptized in August of 2011. Wow. That is, I just love it. I love that you weren't looking for it. You weren't even like in the church. It wasn't like, oh, I'm all in the church.

I'm going on the mission trip. It's like, ooh, Dominican Republic. That's a vacay destination. I'll join. So you get down there and then you come back, you get baptized. When did you actually move to the DR? So I had in 2011, a real heart connection with the country,

with the people there and just really really felt, like you said, like it's my home, it's a safe place, it's where I feel my best. So after that first trip, I was going on every single trip the church sent. I was using all of my vacation time, all of my spending money to go on these trips. So I went on about eight trips,

and at that point I said, you know, I really want to be here longer. And I tried to organize my life in a way that I could move there. But it didn't work out from time to time. And I ended up really moving there in 2017. Okay, so that's six years. So in those eight times you went,

did y'all know each other? No, so the first eight times we did not know each other, but then I went a few more times before moving there. Wow. And we met on, I think it was my 12th trip. Wow. We met. Okay, so when y'all met, was it like love at first sight? How did y'all get to know each other?

It was not love at first sight. No, I wouldn't say that either. But for me, I just felt comfortable being around her. Every time I would talk to her, it would be easy talking to her. And we spent a whole week working for the church and translating, going different places, building. And it was easy talking to her, you know? And after they were supposed to leave, you know,

and all that, I went and said bye and all that. It was difficult for me. I felt like a part of me just left. After seven days. Yeah. You know when you feel like that, when you feel just- No, that's so real. You feel comfortable with someone

and it's just like after 10 minutes away, you just miss each other. Oh yeah. But after that, we just kept talking, FaceTiming and the whole story. And this is before, so you were still living in Maine when you started FaceTiming? Yes.

So that's like long distance to the next level. Yes. You're in a different country. Yes. Different country, the time changes half the year and at the time, like he speaks great English, but at the time it was still in development. And so.

It was in the development phase, which I have to say is so impressive, Luis, like where you're at because you worked really hard, which how did you learn how to speak English? Well, you and your family, you were the ones that helped me get there. Every time you all came down to the Dominican Republic, I was like, why are they speaking a different language

than me? I mean, I was curious about that, you know? And I was like, look, this place, this orphanage, don't provide me with the resources for me to go to an English institute and all that. So I decided to learn English by myself. And actually your aunt and uncle. Ashley and Jay, they were the ones that,

they helped me a lot. Really? I remember studying so hard. And I remember they were like, look, stop studying and going all this crazy, just practice. That was in that moment. I was like, you know what? I'm gonna start watching more movies from now on.

And like, I- But they also sent you that book. was like, you know what? I'm gonna start watching more movies from now on. And like, I- But they also sent you that book. Oh yeah, I remember, oh yes. That you still have. Yeah. And it's like got chicken scratch all over it. It's got notes and errors and corrections. It was a journey for me, you know,

because back then we didn't have phones, internet and, and it was that I used all my time just reading, learning everything about the language, you know? So every time you came down to the Dominican Republic. I was so impressed. I mean, I just, I had to work hard just to impress y'all, you know? And that was my goal.

Every time just to impress you in that. She's excited. Yeah, and yeah, I don't know. Well, what was cool too is it wasn't only impressive, And that was my goal every time just to impress you in that. You succeeded. Yeah. And yeah, I don't know. Well, what was cool too is it wasn't only impressive, it was incredibly helpful because you were the only one out of all the kids that could speak English. So we'd be like, Louise, come help. Louise, come help.

And then, you know, Macy ended up marrying Jackson who could kind of understand. So he would translate and we would have a translator sometimes, but that was so helpful to everyone. And I think that's what's so cool about like the gifts that everyone has and even the hard work you put into something because then it's a gift to everyone else. I think so many times we look at things in like a selfish way of like, I just want to learn, which is fine. But like you gifted the whole orphanage and you know

English so that we all could build further relationships. And I don't know that had you not learned English, we would all be as close as we are now because now we get to talk to you. We had fun. It was a great time. But then it was like to start to hear the things that were coming out of you, what your story was

and what things meant to you and the perspective you had. We were like, wow, like we never even knew. So that was so cool. So y'all are like getting to know each other. Y'all are FaceTiming, y'all are talking and you're still learning English. Still learning. Was okay.

So Brittany, what were you thinking about Luis at the time? When I think about some of my favorite Bible verses, it's really hard to choose from, but some of those verses, maybe they haven't been my favorite forever, but just at that time it meant so much to me. And that is why spreading the Word of God and spreading the Bible is so important to me, and that is why I want to tell you about our partners, CREW.

Our partners at CREW are sharing Jesus through their missionaries all over the world, and they are watching Jesus do so much in literally countries all over the world, which is so amazing. But there are a lot of Christians out there who don't have the incredible benefit of literally having their own Bible in their own language, and that is where we can come in to help.

For only $24 a month, you can provide three people with Bibles each and every month. When you sign up to provide three Bibles with a monthly gift of $24, as a thank you, crew will provide meals to 12 hungry people through their humanitarian aid ministry. Plus, you'll actually receive a free copy of Christian and I's new book, How to Put Love First, which if

you haven't heard of that, it's a 90-day devotional book about putting God first in your life. I know you guys are going to love it. Lots of you have already signed up to give, and I just want to say a huge thank you to the Woe That's Good fam. Y'all are amazing. Y'all are seriously the best, but let's continue to do more work to help CRU because there are so many people who need the word of God and you can help do that. So simply text GOOD to 71326 to help today. Just imagine how much this monthly give could truly change someone's life.

So text GOOD to 71326, that's good, G-O-O-D to 71326 to help now, or visit give.cru-c-r-u.org-o-r-g slash GOOD. Message and data rates may apply, available to US addresses only. I really, again, I wasn't in the market, so I was just not, I wasn't, I wouldn't say that I was interested right at the beginning, because it was, it meant a lot of change for my life, if that were the road I was going down. Like go there. No, because it's just complicated, it's just too much.

And I was comfortable where I was at. So I really leveraged him and got the stirring again that I really wanted to like move to the DR when we met, spend some time there, really come along to the church we were working with. And, you know, it was my place. I wanted to be there. I wanted to be invested. And so really leveraged him because I could speak,

I didn't speak Spanish really great at the time either. So I could leverage him to really try to make some moves to find an apartment, to do some of those things that I wasn't able to do before. So that's really why we stayed in touch and it just developed after that. Y'all are kinda talking, you end up getting to the GR. When was it that y'all were like,

okay, we actually really like each other? So for me, when I got there in 2017, toward the end of 2017, the work that I had got there in 2017, toward the end of 2017, the work that I had got there to do didn't pan out the way that I thought it would. It didn't come to fruition the way that I had dreamt it up. Wow. And so I found myself living in the DR alone,

not speaking great Spanish in a hotel with no way to wash my clothes, no kitchen to cook in, a little bit of a stressful situation. Yeah, not just a little bit. Were you scared? I wasn't scared because at the end of the day, it still is my home, but it was getting expensive.

I was washing my clothes in a tiny bathroom sink. There's no real, a lot of things are different in the DR. There's not traditional laundry detergent. There's not a traditional washing machine. It's very different. And so I was finding it difficult to learn how to do those things without somebody to explain it to me.

Which by the way, like just to credit, that's a huge move. Like it's scary to move to Nashville and they have a washer and a dryer. You know what I'm saying? Like it's incredibly hard to move to another country where everything's different, which will circle back to the fact that now you'll move back here and all the differences.

But yeah, that would be so hard. So you'll, I mean, I'm sure Luis was kind of helping you at the time adjust. Yeah, so that's really where he came in is helping me adjust. And so he was actually living and working at the children's home at this time. And so he was like, just come over to the children's home

and my mom, the woman who takes care of him, my mom will help you out. My mom will help you with the laundry and there are some girls who live there, they can teach you. And so I went and they truly just welcomed me in with open arms and I felt immediately like I was family there. So I ended up not abandoning, but kind of shifting

away from the mission that I had gone with, really finding myself in that relationship and in that work. And his family really took me in. So by the time that I had moved into my apartment, we figured that out, got myself settled. I was feeling like I love to be in the children's home. I love what it stands for.

I love the kids here. And so I found myself there basically every afternoon, tutoring the kids, teaching them English, just spending time with them while he was at work or while the other kids were doing projects, I would help them with their school projects. And really just in that time, it became apparent that this was something

worth pursuing. Yeah. Well, it's so cool because that speaks to so many, so many different levels of things. I think so many people want to have everything figured out before they make the move they're going to make, but that's just not, I don't even think that's how God works.

Like, I don't think he gives you everything and then says, go. I think, you know, he provides for you along the way as you take the next step. And I think that's a great example of showing up somewhere and honestly being a little disappointed by what you were met with. And I think a lot of people in that disappointment move back. They go, well, this wasn't it.

This didn't work out. I've heard it said before, Mike Todd preached this message on being planted and not buried. And he talks about how like when you plant a seed in the ground, this is the same thing that happens when you die, right? Because you bury something. But he said, and the same place where death normally occurs is actually where destiny begins, because it's in that place that looks like death, that something begins to grow, roots begin to grow. And then all of a sudden, the fruit that is actually where destiny begins because it's in that place that looks like death that something begins to grow, roots begin to grow. And then all of a sudden the fruit that comes from it

is just amazing. The tree that's planted is amazing. And that's like the beauty of commitment to something. And I think it's in that place when the seeds in the ground, when it looks like death that most people tap out and they say, I'm going back home, this wasn't it. But if you stick with it and just stay,

keep watering that ground, man, you just don't know what the plan really was. You just don't really know what God was really doing with that and you might've missed out on what was right around the corner, which was your future husband. The real mission you were there for, which was the love and the relationships

you built with those people. Now you have a son, you're here. Like, I mean, just like incredible destiny that was literally waiting on the other side of just a little bit more commitment and time. And so I think that's a message for everyone listening. I mean, you don't have to move to the Dominican Republic to feel like you're in a place of disappointment

with what you thought the plan was gonna be, not shaping out to be what you thought it was gonna be. And just knowing that it might not be what you thought the plan was gonna be not shaping out to be what you thought it was gonna be. And just knowing that it might not be what you thought but it might be better, you know? Like honestly, this is so much better than probably what you thought. Okay, so things are starting to get obvious that you guys are, you know, liking each other.

Luis, when'd you make the move? When were you like, hey, you're the one, my girl. I remember we went on this trip to Varana. You remember Varana, right? Yeah. And we were like just walking around the ocean, you know, and all that. And the day before, I was like, look,

I just, I struggled my whole life trying to find a girlfriend and seeing all my friends having girlfriends. And I was like left out, you know? I struggled my whole life trying to find a girlfriend and seeing all my friends having girlfriends and I was like left out, you know? But she came around and as I said before, it felt comfortable with her being around her, you know? I was like, look, I wanna spend my whole life with her, you know, and I feel that I just want her to be my one forever, you know. And I thought, and those kids, they would be beautiful.

So that's when I was like, yeah, the kids, they will be, they will be cute. So let me just make the move right here. So I proposed to her like in front of the ocean, where I want to, it was, I mean, not cameras, nothing, just me and her, you know, and that's when we decided to spend our lifetime together. It's perfect. It's so cute. And your kid is super cute, BCW.

Thank you. He's a little model. He's really so cute. His little hair and he always has his hair sharp. Y'all keep it looking good. Yeah. Thank you to his dad. Thank you to his dad, hair sharp. Y'all keep it looking good. Yeah. I think it's his dad. I think it's his dad, I mean.

Y'all keep it looking good, for real. Well, I love your story. It's so incredible. Just for just a second, Brittany, you have talked about the fact of having a baby in the DR. What was that like? So it's not at all like in America, but it isn't all bad either.

So it's just very different. The healthcare in the DR is actually free. So you can go to the public hospitals and get care that you need and you pay for your prescriptions or whatever else. But they also have private clinics and really good private clinics. But where we were living, where Luis is from, is not near the big cities. It's out there, it's closer to the Haitian border, it's in the mountains, it's a city, but it's small.

And they actually had just built a new public hospital a couple of years before I moved there. And so it was clean and nice and new. So when we decided that we were gonna start a family or that we wanted to start a family, I said, I can do this. It's not that bad, it's clean. Because we actually had gone to the old hospital

when I was living there the first time. We got in a motorcycle accident. So we went to the hospital. Like thankfully we were all right. The man we hit took off. Which in Dominican, like everybody's on a motorcycle. So that's very normal. Very normal, no helmets.

The whole deal is very crazy and chaotic. There will be a whole family on one motorcycle. Five people on one motorcycle, yeah fine. And not even big motorcycles that you see here. Little motorcycles, like five people on it. So we got in an accident, we went to the hospital and I had like some road rash. But to clean it, the woman picked a razor blade up

off the floor and cut my jeans open. And then she took a water, an old soda bottle that had like a soap mixture in it with a hole in the top and like squirted it on me and started like cleaning off my wounds. And I was like, I'm just gonna take care of this at home. I'm good. This is good.

So actually that was the first time I was living there, his family had taught me to do the laundry and all that stuff. And they actually cleaned my wounds and took care of me that night. It wasn't that bad. But when we decided to have a family, I was like, that hospital would be a definite no.

Yeah, that's gonna be a no. But now they have a nice new hospital, and like, a little bit more order to the chaos that existed previously. So we actually did all of my prenatal appointments at the clinic, the private clinic, but the doctor at the clinic is the same doctor at the hospital,

and the clinic is older. So I went to see the doctor at the clinic, the same doctor at the hospital and the clinic is older. So I went to see the doctor at the clinic but gave birth in the hospital. And so when we got to the hospital, like my water broke, my family's not there. Yeah. Right, so I am solo, flying solo. His family is there, but also like. It's different.

Yeah, it's just different. And so when my- And he wasn't allowed, Luis was not allowed in the room with you. Yeah, so we didn't know that at the time. So they had told me that nobody else could be there, but I thought my husband could be there. Yeah.

So we got there and they were like, hi, what are you here for? Hello. I'm here to have a baby, thank you. So they took me back and they said, okay, well put on your birthing gown. And I said, where is it? They're like, you didn't bring one?

No, I didn't bring one. So Luis left the hospital, drove home, got me clothes to wear to give birth in. And then it was chaos. So he got me the clothes to give birth in, came back to the hospital. Thankfully, it was close. Is that a thing?

Like does everybody in Dominican know that you bring your birth clothes? You bring your own everything. You bring your own clothing, you bring your own diapers, you bring your own. It's a free hospital, come on. But you didn't know. I didn't know.

Yeah, oh my gosh. So I got there, he left to go get me those things, came back and I was in the, there's like a stage before the delivery room where they kept you. And I was like, I'm about to have this baby. Just trying to explain to the nurse, I'm about to have this baby.

And she's like, you're fine, just relax. In Spanish too. Yes, and I'm just like, this baby is coming. And she's like, you're fine, just relax. And then she came and she checked me and she was like, this baby is coming, let's go. Oh my gosh. They put me in a wheelchair, they raised me to the back.

And at this point is when they said, he can't be here anymore. And so I started to panic a little bit, like I speak Spanish, but in moments of anxiety or fear, like it may leave me. Yeah. So I'm like, I don't know what to do. Thankfully our best friend's his best friend growing up

and his wife, she's a doctor. Oh wow. So we had called them when my water broke anyway, and she actually was on her way to the hospital and they actually let her scrub in. That's awesome. And so I was in the back about to give birth and I said to my doctor, I said, I can't do it.

I can't, I cannot do this. You are going to have to cut this baby out of me. Like I cannot do it because in the DR, so they also don't do any medications. So you're going in all natural, no choice. Oh my gosh. Forgive me, there is no plan. There is no plan.

This is going the most natural way possible. And so I told her, I can't do it. I can't do it. You're gonna have to cut this baby out of me. And you know, I'm panicked, but then I heard our friend's voice and she said you can do this. Wow. And so she was there with me. I don't think I opened my eyes once the whole time I was in the delivery room and it was everything happened so fast. It was 30 minutes

from arrival to delivery. Wow. All right let's talk about something that our family definitely appreciates. That's Liberty University. Liberty has been training champions for Christ for over 50 years and it's made a huge impact on my family. Actually right now as I'm recording this, my family is at Liberty's graduation for my sister Bella graduating. So we're very grateful for Liberty and what it's poured into our family's life. Not just Bella, but actually several of my siblings,

including myself for just one semester, but hey, one semester counts. Liberty has been so great for our family and I bet it would be great for yours too. With over 700 residential and online degrees to choose from, you'll definitely find one that will be perfect for your passion in making that passion into a career. Plus Liberty offers lots of scholarships and discounts so you can follow your dreams at a price that's

affordable. You're gonna want to see for yourself what Liberty University is all about by visiting their campus in Lynchburg, Virginia. If you haven't ever been it is absolutely gorgeous. They have tons of opportunities to visit including one-day tours like Tour LU and Experience LU or college for a weekend where high school students can spend three days living the life of a Liberty student I highly recommend that. If you're looking for awesome homeschool option that's actually what Bella did. Bella did Liberty University Online Academy through high school and that is an accredited online K through 12 Christian homeschool program that Bella

loves. She loved her experience at LUOA and it would be a great fit for your family too. LUOA offers a flexible Bible-based education that's self-paced and taught by certified teachers and with a 24-7 access and support, it's homeschooling that you can trust. So, Frank, go to liberty.edu slash Sadie to plan your trip today or to learn more about the many educational options available to you and your family. And because you're a Well That's Good Podcast listener, you'll actually get your application fee waived. So don't wait, go to liberty.edu slash Sadie now and get started on your future today. Oh my gosh, it's amazing like the power of a friend and like the comfort of a friend. It's amazing.

How that like eased your mind. But you're so, you're so laid back. Like you're so chill. I'm like not a chill person as you guys know, hence the expressiveness. Like you're so casual about how intimidating that experience would be to be in a country that is not the country you're from, to not have your family there,

to be speaking a different language, to be in labor and then like them tell you when you get there, you don't have the right have your family there, to be speaking a different language, to be in labor, and then like them tell you when you get there, you don't have the right gown. If they told me I don't have a gown, I would be sweating. I would be like, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, panic stinks in.

And then it's like your husband can't be there, and you can't even think of the words to tell them that he needs to be there. Like that's a really, that's a really intimidating thing. Like that's a scary thing. But not to mention moving to the DR is a scary thing. Living in a hotel is a scary thing. You're so relaxed about it,

but can you speak into a little bit about, because both of you can speak to this, and we're gonna get to your story on this in a second. Speak to just God's provision and not a financial, I think somebody tells me you think like provision, you think like financial blessing. I'm not talking about that. It's about like provision of like peace.

Like, did you feel that in those moments? How did you like get through those incredibly intimidating things? And did you feel that God was with you? Like honestly, and if he didn't, that's fine too. I knew, especially around my pregnancy and the birth of our son, I knew that God was with me.

And I knew that he would have to be in order for us to make it through. If he wanted all of this to come to fruition, which I truly feel he did, like God has orchestrated so many things in my personal life and in Luis's personal life separately to bring us to this moment that it had to be of God. Like this was the plan.

And we chose specifically to give birth in the town we're from. We could have gone to the big city where there are hospitals and medication and those options, but we wanted to be home. And so we knew when we made those choices that that meant being at peace. Like you can't panic in that moment. You can't change your mind because

the city is four hours away. Yeah you've decided. Yeah so when we made the decision we were at peace with the decision and so in that moment I think you find yourself a lot more courageous. Gosh, that's good. Yeah, that's so good because people so often, they want the peace to be when they get to the delivery room. But that's not when you start searching for peace. Like it's before. And that's the thing where like they want it to be when you get to the DR.

But if you wait for it to be when you get there and then you're in the times where it's not going to be peaceful because transition is not peaceful. Transition is awkward. Transition is hard. But that doesn't mean you don't have an anchoring in your soul to know that you're in the right place at the right time. And that comes before. It's not waiting for you to get there when everything's figured out. It's a decision you make prior to say like, God is with me, you know, and if God is for me, who can be against me? And I'm stepping in.

And then when you feel the lack of peace and not the chaos, cause the chaos is there, but the peace Lee, when you go, I'm not supposed to be here, then you figure it out. You know when it's time. But just because it's chaotic doesn't mean it's not. I mean, think about labor. Like when you're at 10, it ain't peaceful.

Transition's hard, transition's rough. But that doesn't mean that that's not where it's supposed to be because that's when the baby comes. And actually I've heard it said because I had actually planned to go natural with honey. I did not. I tapped out. I did have the access to the epidural.

And I said, hit me with that thing. I changed my plan. I'm pressing the button, whatever I gotta do. But I say that, you know, I was in a place where I could, but I've heard it said that it's when the woman says, I can't do this, that it's almost always right after that she has the baby. Because you have a moment where it is,

it feels physically impossible. It's the worst pain you're going to go through. But then it's the next moment that the baby comes. And that is so the picture of life. There's going to be the moments where you say, I can't do this. And it's normally the right after moment where you see why. And so, Luis, in your own way,

you had incredibly hard challenges to face because you there are probably a lot of times where you never thought you would ever live in Louisiana and you strongly had a desire to but that was in in the world's eye impossible for you to do. Speak a little bit to why. Well, it all goes back to me still living in the orphanage. I remember after I finished high school, I wanted to pursue a career in college, you know, with my friends, like that was our goal, you know? But then I discovered that I didn't have

a birth certificate in the Dominican Republic. That's pretty hard because you can't do anything. You can't go to college, you can't get a job, you can't get a bank account, you can't do anything. You're just like a ghost walking around, you know. And when I met Brittany, I told her my whole story and I told her where I come from and what I'm struggling with. And I think also something that I was like, she's the perfect one, you know, because she was willing to move to the Dominican Republic

and stay there with me, stuck in the Dominican Republic, and it didn't matter to her to give up all her advantages here in America, you know? And that was something I was like, thank you, God, for putting her in my path, you know? So I was struggling to get my birth certificate. I called my parents, my actual parents, and I asked them like why I don't have a birth certificate. And they told me they just didn't have the time

to give me a birth certificate. And that's when it hurt me a lot, you know? I was grateful for them to bring me to this orphanage when I was little, but I felt really hurt when they told me they didn't get me a birth certificate, you know. So in that moment also, I felt God telling me, look, you can do this. Just work hard for it and you can make it. But the process was hard. The process, the waiting was pretty difficult. It was long. It was long. I had to get all these people together. I had to get my parents together to sign up all these documents in order for me to start the process.

Yeah. You know, and one thing that I will always be grateful for with for you and your family, you'll always stick with me. You guys were like always praying for me. And every year you came down to the Dominican Republic, you would ask me, hey, Luis, what's going on? Give me an update with your paperwork and I would always tell you, well we're still waiting, you know? And it was hard. Waiting was hard, you know? We're talking about seven years waiting for me to get my birth certificate, you know? And now being here, it feels mind-blowing, you know, because with all the prayers and waiting on God, you just feel like everything works perfect on His timing, you know. Yeah. I remember during the process, I used to be so desperate. And I would question God, like,

look, I have a relationship with you, you know? And I compare my life with my friends, like they don't have a relationship with you. And still they have something that I really want. Wow. And in those moments of desperation and just not trusting God, that's when everything started to be like, alright, you really want your blessings? I'm going to give you your blessings.

And then everything started working out perfectly for me, you know. I remember one day I went to my room, I locked everything and I was like, all right, we need to talk, God, let's do this, because I can't do this anymore. I want to have a life. I want to get married. I want to have kids. And if I have kids, I don't want to put them through that situation, you know? And next day, everything works, work like so fast. Like I can't even explain the way God worked that day for me. Do you remember, I don't know if you remember this,

because I've never brought this up again. And I don't even remember when you called my mom one day and you told her, do you remember it? You were praying for like a meal. Do you remember this? And there was like a lunch or something. Yeah, I remember. What was that? Yeah, we had normally on December, we have this huge meal at home. Yeah. And we were just praying about, we were praying about the lunch and like,

please give it to people who need it and all that. And I remember your mom calling us and that was special for us, you know. And I remember there, I told her that, well, first she asked me about how my paperwork was going and I told her, look, I'm still waiting on God's timing. And that's something I can't force. So I'm just going to let him do his work and I'm not going to get in the middle of it.

And everything worked out perfectly. But in the waiting, because I just remember specific things like that. I remember like, call my mommy and tell like updates and it wouldn't be the update that we wanted. It would be your paperwork, but it would be like some small answer to prayer that always kept you going.

But also like you say you can't force it and you can't force it, but you were like actively showing up. What did that look like to get your paperwork? Cause you were like showing up every day at one point. Yeah. Um, well the main office to get your birth certificate is like in Santo Domingo, four hours away from Neiva.

And I had to like go back and forth every week. And every time I went there, they would tell me, oh, your paperwork is not ready. Oh, we're not working that case today. And I'm talking about like 10 times, I went back and forth, back and forth. And that's one thing I think I'm pretty grateful for. Brittany, she always kept me going like,

look, this is gonna work out, don't worry. And we would pray before I took this bus and went to Santo Domingo. And it took a long, a long time, you know? And I remember the last time I went on that bus to Santo Domingo, everything was magical. Everything was like, it felt like a dream, you know? Because as I said before, I talked to God and I told him,

I need this. And I'm pretty sure you brought me here to this moment because of a reason. And I'm sure that you have a plan for me. So I need you to work this out. And next day, everything worked out perfectly. Next day I went over there and the normal was happening. The guy at the front door was closing the door because we...

He said, we're not allowing more people in. I was like, look, I come from Neiva and it's like four hours away. So could you like work something out? He was like, are you from Neiva and it's like four hours away. So could you like work something out? He was like, are you from Neiva? I was like, yeah, I'm from Neiva too. So come in. He led me in, like the only one in. And he was like, look, this is the contact

for this person out there in the office. Go and talk to him. Wow. I talked to him and he told me, well, should mean to tell me your story. I told him my whole story. him and he told me, well, she'd mean to tell me your story. I told him my whole story. And the guy was like, and you learn English by yourself? And I was like, yeah, hold on, let me call my supervisor. He called the supervisor and she talked to

me about, I mean, I talked to her about, about my whole story. And she was like, look, someone like you needs a birth certificate. So I'm going to work everything out right now. So she did, she set up in her computer, did everything. Next week I have my birth certificate. Look, I got out of that office pinching myself. Like what's happening? Oh my God.

What is happening? I called the first person I called was Brittany. I was like, Brittany, you won't believe what just happened. These people, I told them my story and they worked everything out for me. Well. So it felt really good. Yeah, I was scrambling.

I was just like, what? I didn't think it would happen. Seven years, like seven years. I was like scrambling, like we need to celebrate. We need to do something. I found these old balloons in the drawer and I put them up in the house and was like, it's your birthday, you got a birth certificate.

Wow, wait, what day was it? Oh gosh, I don't even remember. I don't remember. I'm sure we have pictures on the phone. We have to know the day, because that's going to be a bonus birthday. My birthday. Yeah, that's a bonus birthday.

But when was that? That was like November of last year, December? So that was in? That was before AJ was born. Okay, that was a little while ago. So when was it that y'all got approval to come here? So we, when we got married, he did not have his paperwork,

so we could not get legally married. So when we got married, I had said, I will spend the rest of my life on the island with you. Like, this is it. Like we may never leave together. I know that that's a possibility, but we trust God. Yeah. We trust that God will take us through.

So we got married in 2019. Wait, when? What month? May 21st. We got married November, 2019. So we were May 21st. We got married November 2019. So we were May 21st of 2019. We eloped. Almost five years.

Five years next week. And then he got his paperwork in 2020 because we got legally married almost a year to the date later legally. As soon as we got married legally, we started the process to get him a green card so that we could travel back and forth to the States. Not at that time, we weren't moving here. Yeah, you just wanted to meet family. We just wanted to be able to go like, yeah, some of my family's never met him.

We got married before my mom even met him in person. Wow. We like strayed a lot. So it was a little crazy. But in 2020, we submitted the application for a green card. And I mean, gosh, we went probably almost two years before we even got the initial response. Like because COVID shut everything down.

Wow, yeah. So we went almost, probably almost two years before we got the initial response, like fill out all these paperwork. Yeah. And in 2022, we really started that process. And then we had a couple of deadlines in between, but they're really spaced out

because the government just takes forever to process what you submit that first time, and then they take six months to process it, and then they ask you more questions. So in, gosh, it was in November, I think of last year. We'd seen your parents a couple of times, they'd come down, y'all had, you came down. And so we chatted about what life would look like

if that green card comes through, when that green card comes through. And I said, I don't think he'll survive Maine. It's too cold, it's too, everything is just not Dominican. Yeah. So your mom had been like, just why don't y'all come to Louisiana? It's to everything is just not Dominican. Yeah. So your mom had been like, just why don't y'all come to Louisiana? It's really perfect.

The weather's great. Y'all family here. Yeah, a kid the same age at the time when we, Honey and AJ were both just born. They were like a year, not even. No, they were like four months when they first came. No, they were older than that. Seven months, I think.

Honey, yeah, was a little bit older than AJ. We have a picture of you and AJ. She was almost one. Oh yeah, there's one of Sadie and AJ and Honey together. Oh yeah, I had a cute one of me and AJ and Honey. And so I remember being like, can we move and we can raise our hands together? And your cousin, Macy, she's the one who sealed the deal.

One night after dinner, we stayed up late just chatting with her and her husband. And just, she really just convinced us that this was like home, this was family, this was it. Wow. Yeah. Which I love that, because she doesn't live here but she like convinced y'all to move here

because this is so like that for Macy and for all of us. But I just love that it came from her too. Yeah. So we decided that when the green card came through that we would We would try it out here. Yeah, and so We got a call in November of last year

That our appointment was coming up for our interview, which is the last step of the green card process and it was the day after Christmas And so I had started working for Your mom's company. Yeah. I almost, probably about nine months beforehand, I was working remotely from the DR. And we had a flight already booked. I was coming here in January for the first time for a team meeting. But we had this appointment on the day after Christmas that we had to be at. And then I was going gonna take AJ up here

and we were just gonna check it out and see what was going on. Well, the day after Christmas, we went to the appointment. They asked us barely any questions because he speaks English. It was very clear we had a child together, that our relationship was legit. And they approved his document right there in that moment.

And so at that point, we know, we called your mom, like so excited, like you won't even believe what's happening and she somehow, I don't even know how this is possible, but she somehow convinced us to make the move. Oh yeah. ASAP. Yes.

And she was like, just make it happen. Just get here in January and don't leave and just make it happen. So AJ and in January and don't leave and just make it happen. So AJ and I packed up everything. They left me behind. We had to wait for his actual passport. They keep it and then put a stamp in it so that he can travel.

So he had to wait a little bit, but I was coming for the meeting. So she was like, just come and don't leave. You can stay with us and we'll figure it out. And so we actually got here the first week in January. And when Luis got his document, your mom again was like, just make it happen. And so he got here the second week in January.

It's crazy. It was so crazy when y'all got here. It was just like so long waiting. And then it was like, here, move, craziness. And what was so amazing, I just had to tell the story to you is during the time of Luis's waiting, he was doing Liberty online. Which was so cool because as soon as they moved here in January, I was speaking at Liberty.

Just a few weeks later and I was like, y'all need to come to Liberty with me. That would be amazing. It was just so cool because right whenever they moved here, think about this for Luis's life. Literally grew up in an orphanage. Learn how to speak English on your own. Play yourself through so much to get your paperwork. Got married, have a baby, started a family, all this amazing stuff. And then worked your butt off to do college online in English, nonetheless. And then gets the paperwork, gets the green card,

moves here with his family, and then two weeks later gets to go to Liberty University. It was a drink of truth. I mean, it was crazy. It was crazy. It was crazy. And then how special that just this last month, Bella was graduating and Luis was also graduating

from Liberty and y'all got to walk together. What? It was a dream come true. I'm telling you, remember when I told you that I've been pinching myself to see if this is reality? That's what I've been doing all this time since I've moved here. Yeah, I said it, I don't know if I,

oh, well, I saw this before when my friends went to college, I wanted to study. I mean, I love studying and I love the environment, you know? And when I was offered to study at Liberty University online, I was like, of course, but I don't have a birth certificate. So how that would work. And they made everything work. And I was like, so I'm studying now, you know?

And coming here and being able to go to the campus, it was a dream come true. Yeah. You know, we went there, I was like, I was feeling like a kid. The first time going to an ice cream store, you know, like this is awesome, you know. And last week, me and Bella, we graduated and we walked. It felt it felt good, you know. And last week, me and Bella, we graduated and we walked. It felt good. You know, and I've been saying this, it feels good.

Because you go through so much trouble and you go so much through all this process. And then God tells you, this is what I've been saving for you. This is for you. You see, you just have to trust me all this time. And I'm just grateful. I've been walking around here.

I'm like, I'm grateful. It's awesome. Look, America has been throwing me really good, okay? Food here in Louisiana is amazing. Thank you, Willie. I know. You did happen to come to the right place. Yeah, it's been a journey.

And coming from where I come from, it feels great, you know? And I always receive text, messages, texts from my brothers and sisters. And they're like, I can't believe you made it up there, bro. And I always receive text messages, texts from my brothers and sisters. And they're like, I can't believe you made it up there, bro. It feels good to have one of us there. And and always sometimes they ask me, do you think they remember me?

Like, of course they do, because we are family, you know. So I'm just grateful. Yeah. Well, Luis, it's amazing. And I remember you saying this at Liberty that so many people used to make fun of you because you're in an orphanage and you didn't have a birth certificate, so you couldn't go to school. And then you were like, look at me now.

Look at me now. Look at me now. Look at what, but not in a private way, but look at what the Lord's done. You know, and you exude that. Like, look, y'all both do. Look at what the Lord's done, and you exude that, like, y'all both do. Look at what the Lord has done in our life together, and he's made a way. Last thing I wanna ask you,

cause I know we're over time, but I think this is an important question, and you might not know the answer, but it just keeps coming up in my mind as you're talking. Just the idea of like, how did you stay so rooted in your identity? And I ask you that because you mentioned this, this one phrase you said that stuck with me

ever since you said it, you said, you're a ghost walking around. Like you didn't have a birth certificate. Like, you know, that's a hard thing to wrestle with an identity, with like, I don't have birth certificate or like an orphanage or I didn't know like what I was gonna do. Now you live in like a marriage.

Like you've had all these things and I think so many people get so wrapped in their identity being attached to something, but you don't seem to struggle with that. And so one, how or if you did, how did you overcome that? Well, honestly, I struggle with it. I struggle with my identity. I was like, who am I? You know? And I always thought that my identity was based on a paperwork, on a paper, on a piece of paper over there. If my name is written down on a paper, that's my identity. I thought all along that having my ID was the goal, you know. But now I just feel that I was wrong because way before my parents left me in this orphanage, way before I knew I didn't have birth certificate,

I had an identity already. I had the identity of the son of the creator of the universe. That's a lot. So the fact that he knows me, he knew me before, I'm fine by that. Now I don't care about a piece of paper or an ID with my name. Because I know that the one, the boss, the one up there, he knows my name. Yeah. So, yeah.

Come on now, preach the word. I'm ready to see you preach in places. Thank you. This is so good. But it's actually amazing you say that. I didn't want to put you in a spot to ask that question, but it's just been coming up. I'm like, how did you stay rooted?

But it's so cool to even hear you say I did struggle. And now that I have it, I realized I was wrong because it wasn't in that piece of paper. It was before, which is what we've been talking about this whole time. Don't let something bring you your happiness, bring you your peace, bring you your, like it's gotta be God, period.

Like it's gotta be the identity in Christ, the peace you found from God, the joy that you have in the Lord. Like don't wait for something else to bring you that, or you're gonna be waiting your whole life and you're gonna get it and you're not gonna have it and you're gonna be highly disappointed because it doesn't come with that.

It doesn't come with the birth certificate. It doesn't come with the comforting hospital. It doesn't come with, because you can be in America and have all the same fears, you know? You can be anywhere and have the same problems. So that's what I'm saying. It's not going to be these things that bring you your happiness.

It's going to be the power of knowing who God is and knowing how He sees you. It's amazing. In John 17, it's a prayer that Jesus was praying. At the end of the prayer, Jesus says this line, and I was like, Oh my gosh, this is so cool that Jesus says this. And he's saying things to God, the Father, and he says, you knew me before the foundation of the world began. And I think about the fact that in the midst of Jesus' hardest thing he was about to walk through, he's praying and praying the unity for us with the Father. He's praying all

these amazing, powerful things. But then he asked God that he would bring him into glory with him. And then he quotes, you know, you knew we were for the foundation of the world began, which is actually a quote from the Old Testament. But yet Jesus was finding his own identity in the knowledge that God knew him

before the foundation of the world began. And that was giving him peace and comfort for the hope to come. And I'm like, if that, if even Jesus knew the power of that, then like we better realize the power of that. And sometimes it's easy to go, well, yeah, Jesus, he is the son of God, but like, so are you friend. Like you are the daughter, you are the son.

You have that same ownership. So I love how Louise is like, I'm the son of the boss. Like that's who I am. Like before the foundation of the world began, God knew me. So before my parents left me at an orphanage, I was already defined and given an identity as the son of a king.

So period, you know? So y'all's story is just so incredibly powerful. As I said at the beginning, you don't have to reach, you don't have to strive. It's who you are. It's what God's done. So thank you all for the honor of getting to sit here and hear the whole story, even though I've known you all, I haven't even heard so much of that. So thank you for that and to everyone listening, I hope that you're incredibly inspired.

If you're not, you weren't listening. Listen again. But thank you guys, you all are awesome. Thank you for't listening. Listen again. But thank you guys, you are awesome. Thank you for having us.